With Elderflowers in season there is no better time to make your own refreshing drink.

This cordial is so very easy to make you will wonder why you ever bought it.

It does need to infuse over night for the full flavours to develop, so bear this in mind when you make it and start making it a day ahead of when you would like to drink it.

This recipe will make about 450ml of cordial

You will need:

• 7-10 Large Elderflower sprigs
• 400ml Water
• 250g Granulated sugar
• 1 Lemon (thinly sliced)

Method:

• Trim the large storks off the Elderflowers (these can make the cordial bitter), give the sprigs a shake to remove the bugs. Then put the flowers into a large heat proof bowl.
• Bring the water to the boil in a medium sized saucepan.
• Reduce the heat to a simmer and add the sugar, stir gently until the sugar is dissolved.
• Add the sliced lemons and simmer for about 5mins.
• Pour the syrup and lemons over the flowers, stir gently to ensure the flowers are submerged.
• Place a clean tea towel over the bowl and leave over night or 24hours if you can.
• Sieve the cordial – I usually get all the ‘big bits’ out by sieving through a colander, then use a fine mesh sieve to get any little bits.
• Your cordial is now ready to use, dilute to the strength you like and enjoy!

This will keep in the fridge for up to 6weeks in an air tight container, however it is so nice and so easy to drink we are lucky if it lasts 2 days!